Anthony Bourdain Is The Latest Liberal To Say Liberal Smugness Lost Them The Election

A lot of (correct) people have claimed that Donald Trump’s election victory was largely the result of pushback against the coastal left’s relentless cultural crusade against everything and everyone they find even remote problems with, no matter how big or small the issue. That, combined with the constant mockery and shaming of the right, of middle America, and of working class America by an increasingly politicized entertainment industry (especially comedy) was finally too much to bear and voters everywhere essentially collectively said, “Fuck me? Fuck ME? No FUCK YOU.”

I personally subscribe to this theory. When I watch hack shit like MTV’s “New Year’s Resolutions for White Guys” I, a moderate voter who generally supports lefty things like abortion access and LGBT rights, think to myself, “Good. I’m fucking glad he won. Fuck all these whiny, smug pieces of shit. Fuck them with a crooked tree branch.” But then Trump tweets that we need more nukes so I just pour myself a drink and await the flames.

Anyway, Anthony Bourdain is another subscriber to this theory. As a guy who is more well traveled than basically everyone, he’s probably worth listening to.

“The utter contempt with which privileged Eastern liberals such as myself discuss red-state, gun-country, working-class America as ridiculous and morons and rubes is largely responsible for the upswell of rage and contempt and desire to pull down the temple that we’re seeing now,” Bourdain said in an interview with Reason magazine.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in gun-country, God-fearing America,” Bourdain continued. “There are a hell of a lot of nice people out there, who are doing what everyone else in this world is trying to do: the best they can to get by and take care of themselves and the people they love. When we deny them their basic humanity and legitimacy of their views, however different they may be than ours, when we mock them at every turn and treat them with contempt, we do no one any good.”

…

“The self-congratulatory tone of the privileged left — just repeating and repeating and repeating the outrages of the opposition — this does not win hearts and minds,” Bourdain said. “It doesn’t change anyone’s opinions. It only solidifies them and makes things worse for all of us.”

He added, “We should be breaking bread with each other and finding common ground whenever possible.”

Yeah that just about nails it. Hopefully the left takes things like this to heart but I have a feeling they’ll just call Bourdain racist, or say he’s normalizing hate or some shit. They’re not too bright, that crowd.

I agree with the Bourdain comments TFM highlighted here. But if you read the full interview, he actually says some pretty left-wing talking points and condescending bullshit. He implied that Trump won because “authoritarianism is on the rise” and “fear of the other (referring to non-white races/cultures). Strong words for someone who just went on a rant about privileged Eastern liberals being out of touch and condescending

This is Anthony’s attempt to claim that the election was solely about angry white men instead of actual issues. More people than just Trump got elected. Liberalism, not just the condescending liberals, was defeated across the board. People are sick of the failed policies Obama pushed and knew that Hillary would bring more of the same.

To say it made THE difference in the election and swung it is probably wrong. To say it made a difference in the election (number of votes Republicans received a number of votes Democrats didn’t) is correct.

You have to be some kind of shit candidate to get the people who make just enough to get by think a guy who lives in a gold penthouse is closer to the common man than you are. Does anyone believe Biden wouldn’t have won? Dude speaks to the middle class like no one else. But instead we got Crazy 1 vs. Crazy 2 as a punishment for our sins.

Biden would’ve killed Trump. In part because he has way more latitude than Clinton to say whatever he feels like. He could’ve called Trump a dipshit in the middle of a debate and people would’ve loved it. He could’ve beaten Trump at his own game while also sounding like a competent candidate.

Plenty of people had an alternative. He lost the popular vote (not here to debate the electoral college) and won by plurality in his primary. He won by implementing a brilliant strategy of knowing where he needed to win and selectively picking his fights. But it’s silly to say no one had an alternative. At no point did he gather a majority.

I meant from a primary perspective. Who should the GOP have nominated instead? Rubio who says he’s going to increase military spending a casual Trillion, lower taxes, and somehow balance the budget? Ted Cruz whose brand of social conservatism turns off far too many? John Kasich who the base despises?

I mean there isn’t a right answer for the GOP. Clearly having that crowded of a field benefited him. I grew up in NH and I’m pretty convinced that had that field been a bit smaller someone like a Kasich could’ve shaken up the race far earlier. If you’re asking specifically for a single candidate I think Scott Walker probably pulled the plug too early in such an unpredictable year. All I know is they all caught each other in a crossfire and left Trump standing.

My point here also isn’t an endorsement of Biden but rather that there are democrats capable of not waging a culture war and talking to middle America. More in line with the party when Kennedy was president.

He’s gaffe prone but it (usually) isn’t on policy, more just saying stupid shit. Palin just shows no understanding of issues. And if you don’t think Biden speaks to working class people in the rust belt more so than Clinton does your nuts.

Clearly you didn’t watch the 2012 VP debate then. Paul Ryan wiped the floor with old Joe because he doesn’t actually know what the hell he’s talking about. And the fact that Biden speaks better to working people in the rust belt is besides the point. He also starts with an advantage because he didn’t call those people deplorable